Airplane



y 1945- L. G. BOWEN 2,376,862

- AIRPLANE Filed A 'r'il 6, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNVENTdR LESLIE G. Bowayv ATTORNEY I In the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspectiveview of the wings and fuselage, partly broken away, of an airplane Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on a enlarged scale through on wing and a'portion of the fuselage of rny; proved airplanew FieAt ,sctio aken onr-theflline .4' Fig. 3 on a'still larger'scale. 1

. Fig. 5 is. a section taken on the line '5 Fig. 2. 1 v 1 Fig. 6 is-a front elevational view of the rate used as a propeller in my invention and Fig. 7. is an elevational view of one of rotor blades detached. 1

7 Referring in detail to the drawings, y-11h w 20 'walls' receding from each other from the walls l3 roved airplane is provided with a fuselage t0, hieh merely shown i in'- outline: as th'e a con- 'SfiZuQtl'OIl 1 thereof is notparticularly of importaiic'e' te -the invention; and'awingstructure havine a topwalli abottom wall. 11.2: and; curved -forwardwallportions I352 The top wall I] curves upwardlyifrom the 'forward edge .14 othere'ohias I indicated atl 5, to a1.poi-nt OfimaXiinum heightI l6 and then inclines downwardlyto. the'rear-edge11 aeteris ti.cs of: the top-Mall would be. ;substant ia1ly asv shown, so that the tp..s urf;a0e ofgairplane 1 w n s. .I- made; =.'iI,1. ,accordancewit invention wou d besimilar in characterto hose :oficonvenusual manner and being shown 'as' being hin'g'ed ithereof; ?the inclined portion being -:indioated.by trtheanumeral 3:] 8. and being "substantially; plane lillustrative;; as gthisiista matterxof.idesign;;. which w an be varied considerably but the -gen.eralichar'- on the bottom wall I2 of the wing, although obviously the same could be mounted between the bottom and top walls'at the rear or trailing edge of a wing, or both at the top and bottom walls, as

5' may be found desirable.

The concavely curved-walls 13 are provided at their innermost portions with openings 26, which" are of such size or cross sectional area that at the desired speed or rotation of the suction creating 'l'fiw means; to hea described below, suction will 'be .i 1"eat'ed -'ove'r the entiregeurved area ,13 between one apex 2| and the next apex 2|, each opening e -curved wall and the under face of the curved apexes 2]. a I "Within the-wing between the walls II and I2 diverging walls 28 are provided, said diverging that creates the suction" appropriate for .the par- Stieular: opening '26-with .whichthe motor 29 is i aligned 1 Any i suitable mounting: means, 8110111815 the frame-members 30 -andi3l, maybe provided l-T01 mounting the m'otors,:. the motors being. customarilyi mounted onnrings ;32- carried by the =framework; so that the stream of *air that is w created, wwhich i passesafrearwardly through: the widening passage between eachpair of walls 28 .tothe rear ortrailingedge ofothe wing can pass between,-the; engine cylinders tot'provide for the -coo1i'ng' thereof. Theparticular type oi engine h s t part of my inv'entiomiand'iS'O Y ""conventionally'. In' order 'to. provide suificient space for' the rotor and-the necessary air passage ----s'urr'ound-ing thesame, the top wall. I] .is provided 'with a pluralitypf upwardly bowed transversely i and'longi'tudinally curved'portions 33,.which-form witheach rotori i saidwall portionsz33 are, pref- -'thereof-;- said"wa1ls 34 also iservingl'to br'acea'the walls H atthe greatest projection thereof 'beyond twain-e,- sv;

*gi'ne "or motor 29 -isprovided with a relatively 5 long sfhaf-t 36 on which is mounted a long sleevefi s'uc'tio'n reating-rotor -or' Sirocco member, said Hsleeve-l 'niernbe'r 31 being fixed ito-the shaft '--""'36j and serves to provide "a suitable suppo'rt for 3 the jrotor without providing any bearings: at' the end thereofremote from 3 the 5 engine, although T "bvmusi suitablebearing -means 1 "co'uldl-ber provided -threfor if this should-befound. desirable. a -Spabed-fr'om the imperforate twall: or diskelike inember 38 is a ring-like member/39;?and between said ring-like 'member- 39:and the: disk-lik m'emi- 1: b'e'r; 38 'is frnoun'ted a multiplicity ofzblades' Z40:-;-de-

1 slots between-the same: Said. blades .are'of lllai 'con'cave-convex {-character; as will be: obvious fr0m"F-ig 6; and-i; theconcave" sides :Ithereofiare' V g 26 being sufficient to create the desired suction v within the space defined by the upper face 'ofthe .wall, l 5,.and the walls I3 between each pairof part ofthe hous'ing.for the-rotor and constitute part of the air passage or wind tunnel associated Reierringto Fig: 3 it willbe 'noted that ween;

gar-asap so arranged relative to the direction of rotatinn that as the same are rotated: rapidly by rotation or ithe-shaft 36 by the engine .29 theserwillzpick up the air from the" inner edges thereof, "that is, thosenearest the center of rotation tof zthe rotor, *and will' throw the air toward theouter edges thereof or tho'se remote from the axis of rotati'on o f the 'rotor,-or substantially centrifugally, sotthat as the rotor rotates in the direction indicated .by the arrow Fig. =6, ain-will be thrown outwardly substantially radially in all direction zfrom'the rotordntothe passage defined by the walls 28, thewall l 2,-and the wall I Iwith the aupwardly curvedflportiom 33. Due to the taper of the walls '28 the direction of the air currents thus rcreated will b'echanged from -a centrifugal direction *to one generally rearwardly toward the trailing edge of "the wing, the air discharging from the outer surface of the rotor between the blades '40 will bo-discharged at a high pressure and high ve-. loci-ty, and this pressure and velocity will be maintained throughout the passage betweenthe walls abovereierred to and theair at suchvipressure and velocity a referred to will "be .dis-

charged at the rear edge portions ioflthewing in a substantially uniform stream :from'the wing tips 19 to the fuselage I'll.

"Due to the rapid rotation of thefrotor and the fact' 'that'it is-of considerably greater length axia-lly than its diameter, there will b .a tendency to reduce thedensity of theair'tremendously in an axial direction-inwardly from'the opening=26 to the wall 38 and in order to have the blades :40 operate at full efliciency, so that all -:por.tions thereof from the forward to the-rear-edge of each bladewill be discharging substantially the same volume of air into the passage surroundinglthe rotor, said blades are, preferably, provided with a wider portion '4 l adjacent the wall 38 and a narrower portion 42 adjacent the ring :39 connected by-a gradually widening portion 43- extending from substantiallythe forwardedgeofeach blade to the widened portion, which extends-a substantial distance forwardly from the rear edge o-f-each blade, (by 'forward and rear edges being meant those nearest the front or rear-of the'rotor). I

It will accordingly be seen that by the use of my invention, the pressure ordinarily existing: on the forward or leading edge of an'airplane wing is eliminated by the suction created by my high speed rotative suction creating means and that the suction that is thus-created canbe determined defini'telyby the design of the rotorand the size-of the engine or power plant,and that the means for propelling the plane includesalso means for reducing or'eliminating the wind resistance orair pressure on the forwarder leading edge of the wing, thus making it possible-to obtain higher speeds than can be obtained by merewing design with the use of propellers driven by'the'engine or power plant in free or open air. What Iclaim'is: 1

' '1. In an airplane, a wing having spacedimperforatetopand bottom walls having straight leading edges defining the leading edge of said wing, said top wall sloping upwardly away fromsaid 'bot'tomwall from the leading edge thereofto a pointnear'but spaced backwardly from saidlea'ding edgeand downwardly toward said bottom wall from said point 'to'the trailing edge of said top wall, a forward wall adjacent the leading edges of said walls connecting said top and bottom walls and having air inlet openings therein, said wall comprising inwardly curved portions extending from spaced forward points substantiallyat the leading edges of said 'top and bottom walls to saidinlet openings to provide passages havingforward open .ends collectively co-extensive with substantially the entire leading edge of said wing narrowingto' the cross section of said in'letopening at the rear ends thereof, walls extending between said top and bottom walls and gradually divergingfrom said forward wall at "said openings to the trailing edgesof said-top and bottom walls to prov-idegradually rearwardly widening air passages extending from i said inlet openings to the trailing edge'of' said wing, and propelling means for said airplane in said passages creating suction at said inlet openings, all the air moved by said propellingmeans passing through said inlet openings and beingdischarged at the trailing edge of said wingunder positive pressure. 2.'In an airplane, a-"w-ing having"spac'edimperforate top -and'bottom walls"having straight leading "edges defining the leading edge of said wing, said top wall sloping upwardly awayfrom said bottom wall "from the leading' 'edge thereof to a point near but spaced" baokwardly from said leading edge and downwardly-toward said bottom wall from said point to the trailing edgeof saidtop wall, a forward wall adjacent the leading edges of said walls connecting said top and bottom walls andhaving air inlet openings therein, said wall comprising inwardly curved portions extending from spaced forward points substantially at the leading edges ofsaid top; and bottom walls to said inlet openings 'toprOVide passages having forward open ends collectively oo-extensive with substantially the entire leading edge of said wing narrowing to the cross section of said inletopening at the rearendsthereof, walls extending between said top and bottom walls and gradually diverging from said forward wall at said openings'to the trailingedges of said top and bottom walls to provide gradually rearwardly widening air passages extending from said inlet openings to the trailingedge of said Wing,:said rearwardly widening passages having rearo-pen ends collectively co-extensive" with substantially the entire trailing edge of said wing, and propelling means "for said airplane in said passages creating suction atsaid inlet openingsall the :air

moved bysaid propelling means passing through said inlet openings and being discharged at the trailingedge of said wing underpositive pressure.

3.In an airplane, a wing having spaced imperforate top and bottom walls having straight leading edges defining the leading edge of said wing, said top wall sloping upwardly awayirom saidjbottom wall fromtheleading edge thereof to a point near but spaced backwardlyifrom said leading edge and downwardly toward said bottom wall from saidpoint to the trailing edge oft-said top wall, a forward wall adjacent the leading edges of said walls connecting said top and .bottom walls and having'a'ir inlet--o-peningstherein, said wall comprising inwardly curved portions extending from spaced forward points substantially at the leading edges of said top andebottom walls to said inlet openingsto provide passages having forward open ends collectively .co-extensive with substantially the :entire "leading edge of said wing narrowing to the cross sectionxof said inlet opening at thedearflndsitheredf, walls -extending'-between said top and bottom .:wa11s.:and gradually diverging from said forward wall at said openings to the trailing edges of said top and bottom walls to provide gradually rearwardly sai'd bottom wall from openingsto the trailing edge-of said wing, and propelling meansfor said airplane;.;consisting of wardly widening passages substantially centrif bladed rotors mountedentirely within. said rear and means for rotat iugally of the peripheries of said rotors, whereby jallthe air moved bysaid-propelling .means P s gthrough said-inlet openings and is discharged; at ltheitrailing edge of said wing under positive pres- :sure.

- 4. man; airplane, a wing having spaced imperforate top and bottom walls having straight leading edges defining the leading edge'of said awing, said top wall sloping upwardly away from leading edge and downwardly toward said bottom forward wall adjacent the leading edges of saidwalls connecting said top and bottom' walls and having air t said wall comprising inwardly curved portions extending from spaced forward points sub-, stantially at the leading edges of said top and bottom walls to said inlet openings to provide passages having forward open ends collectively co-extensive with substantially the entire leading edge of said wing narrowing to the cross section of saidinlet openingiat the rear ends thereof, walls extending between walls and gradually diverging from said forward said rearwardly widening passages 'tially the entiretrailing edge of said wing, and

wardly widening passages, and meansforiotating the leading edge thereof to a point near but spaced backwardly from said trifugally of the peripheries of said rotors, wherewall from said point to the trailing edge of said top wall, a

inlet openings therein,

said top and bottompropelling means for saidairplane consisting of 1 2 bladed rotors mounted entirely within said rearforward open ends collectively (to-extensive with substantially the entire leading edge of said wing narrowing to the opening at the rear ends thereof, walls extending cross sectionof said inlet between said top and bottomwalls and gradually diverging from said forward wall at said openings to the trailing edges of said top-and bottom l walls to provide graduallyrearwardly widening wall at said openings tothe trailing edges of said, j top and bottom walls to provide gradually rear- 1 wardly widening air passagesextending from said 1 having rear 1 open ends collectively co-extensive with substan- 1 said rotors, the blades of said rotors being -dij 1 rected to draw air substantially axially'into said 1 1 leading edge of said wing at the'forward ends of widening passages substantially centrifugally of said inlet openings and is discharged at the trailwing, said'top wall sloping upwardly away from said bottomwall from I tending from spaced forward points substantially at the leading edges of said top and-bottom walls to said. inlet openings .totprovide, passages having,

I rotors solely through said inlet openings from the ,1

, 150 said rotors and discharge air into said rearwardly the peripheries of saidrotors, whereby all the air moved by-said propelling means passes through ing edge of said wing under positive pressure. 5.-In an airplane, 'a wing having spaced im- 3 perforate top'and bottom walls having straight 1 leading edges definingthe leading edge of said:

air passages extending fromv sa1d inlet openings to the trailing edge of said wing, and propelling means for saidairplane consisting of bladed rotors mounted entirely within said rearwardly wid- I ening passages, the forward ends of said rotors being immediately adjacent and substantially co}- extensive with said inlet openings, and means for rotating said rotors, the blades of said rotors being directed to draw air substantially axially into said rotors solely through said inlet openings from the leading edge of said wing at, the forward ends of said rotors and discharge air into said rearwardly widening passages substantially cenby all the air moved by said propelling means 1 passes through saidinlet openings and is dis- 6. In an airplane, a wing having spaced imperforate top and bottom walls having straight leading edges defining the leading edge of said win-g, said top wall sloping upwardly away from said bottom wall from the leading edge thereof to a point near but spaced backwardly from said leading edge and downwardly toward said bottom wall from saidpoint'to the 1 wall, a forward wall adjacent the leading edges of said walls connecting said top and bottom walls and having air-inlet openings therein, said wall comprising inwardly curved portions extending from spaced forward points substantially at the leading edges ofsaid top-and bottom walls 'to said inlet openings to provide passages having forward open ends collectively co-extensive with substantially the entire leading edge of said wing narrowing to the cross section of vsaid inletopen 1 ing at the rear ends'thereof, walls extending be,-

tween-said top and bottom walls and gradually diverging from said forward wall at said openings to the trailing edges of said top and bottom walls to provide gradually'rearwardly'widening airpassages extending from said inlet, openings. to

the trailing edge of said wing, said rearwardly widening passages having rear open ends-collectively co-extensive with substantially the entire trailing edge of said wing, and propelling means for said airplane consisting of bladed rotors mountedentirely within said rearwardly widening passages, the forward ends of said rotorsbe ing immediately adjacent and substantially co extensive with said inlet openings, and means for rotating said rotors, the blades of said rotors be'- ing directed to draw air substantially axially into said rotors solely through said inlet openings from of saidrotors and discharge air'into saidrearwardly widening passages substantially centrifugallyof the peripheries, of said rotors, whereby all the air moved by said propelling means passes pressure.

trailing edge of said top the leading edge of said wing at the forward ends J LESLIE G. BOWEN, 

